FWA orders stop to Pluto LNG strike

Fair Work Australia (FWA) has ordered the suspension of industrial action at Woodside Petroleum's Pluto LNG project by 12 Mammoet crane drivers and telescopic forklift operators.

The suspension is for 3 months and is effective immediately.

In a statement, Woodside said that during the suspension Mammoet and the Construction Forrestry Mining and Energy Union are obliged under the legislation to continue good-faith bargaining in respect of the outstanding claims.

The CFMEU has described the decision as disgraceful.

"In handing down the decision, no reasons were given by FWA," the union said in a statement.

The CFMEU's WA assistance secretary Joe MacDonald said, "All that the men wanted was to sit down and negotiate a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement as is their right and were seeking a 7 per cent pay increase with their employer Mammoet Australia."

"The employer refused to bargain in good faith and ... steps were taken as a last result to try and achieve a fair outcome.

"However the legislation provides a clause whereby any third parties indirectly affected by such an action can apply to have the protected action stop and this is what Woodside have done," he said.

The strike began on April 28.